Mercury Flashcards
What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
mercury
how much mercury exposure is needed before causing malformations?
ANY exposure to mercury will cause malformations
What does Hg (Hydragyrum) mean?
liquid silver
What are some characteristics of transition metals?
- form colored compounds
- good conductors of heat and electricity
- malleable
- less reactive than alkali metals
- have high melting points EXCEPT mercury
- have a wide range of oxidation states resulting in different ionic forms
What are some transition metal examples?
- iron
- manganese
- chromium
- copper
What is significant about the fact that mercury is liquid at room temperature?
that means it evaporates at room temperature
what are the naturally occurring forms of mercury?
- elemental or metallic mercury
- inorganic mercury
- organic mercury
True or false:
Mercury can touch the BBB
False, mercury itself cannot cross or touch the BBB
What is the pathway from inorganic mercury to methylmercury in humans?
- Discharge
- Biomethylation
- Bioaccumulation
- Exposure
What is the most frequently encountered form of mercury?
methylmercury
True or false:
All forms of mercury are toxic
True!
What are some of the environmental sources of mercury?
- natural degassing of earth (like volcanoes)
- combustion of fossil fuel
- incineration
- industrial discharges and wastes
- dental amalgams
What four disorders are caused by mercury exposure?
- Minamata Disease
- Learning and Memory, Neuro-psychiatric disorders, sensory deficits
- Neurodegenerative diseases (alzheimer’s)
- Autism
What are dental amalgams made of?
about half liquid mercury and about half powder containing silver, tin, copper, and other metals
What are the factors that determine the health effects of mercury?
- the type of mercury
- the dose
- the age or developmental stage
- the duration of exposure
- the route of exposure
